Means for use in laying concrete pathways and the like



MEANS FOR USE IN LAYING CONCRETE P ATHWAYS AND THE LIKE Filed March 28,1942 4 Sheet-Sheet 1 a Ill II:ITIfIIIIIII- Ln f.

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MEANS FOR USE IN LAYING CONCRETE PATHWAYS AND THE LIKE,

Filed March 28, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVE/VTd/E Wow/)5 M55 Flo/9r Jan.4, 1944. T. w. FLOYRY 2,338,630

.MEANS FOR USE IN LAYING CONCRETE PATHWAYS AND THE LIKE Filed March 28.1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I/vvE/v-ra/e 77/o/ ms WASS FLoRY WW ATTO/Q/VEVS TW. FLO RY MEANS FOR USE IN LAYING CONCRETE PATHWAYS AND THE LIKE Jan. 4,1944.

- 4, Sheets-Sheet 4 lfiled March 28, 1942 Patented Jan. 4', 1944 UNITEDOFFICE MEANS FOR USE IN LAYING CONCRETE PATHWAYS AND THE LIKE ThomasWass Flory, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, England Application March 28, 1942,Serial No. 436,596 In Great Britain January 29, 1942.

6 Claims.

This invention relates to the layingof concrete and similar pathways andthe like in situ and has for its object improved means for enabling thecorrect width line and level readily to be maintained, as the workproceeds, as well as generally to facilitate the operation Theimprovements provided by the present invention consist in alterations ofsome of the members constituting the means set out in the specificationof my Letters Patent No. 2,286,612.

In accordance with the present invention primary and secondary spacingmembers, partition strips separate from said spacing members, bridgingmembers, and channel-section side members are provided, said spacingmembers being adapted to support, and prevent distortion of, saidpartition strips and said channel-section side members when laid ontheir sides on the ground with their webs vertical and facing towardsone another and in conjunction with said partition strips, constitutethe sides of a mould in which the concrete or the like is to be cast andeach of these spacing members is disposed on the upper surfaces of saidchannel-section side members and is provided at each end, with a doublecam device adapted to act on the edge and on the inner face of one ofthe flanges of a channel-section side member so that a shoulder on saidspacing member may be drawn into close contact with the web of saidchannel-section side member, so

that said spacing member itself may be brought to a predetermined leveland position with respect to the channel-section side members with whichit is engaged and so that the looking together of the saidchannel-sectionv side members and the backing up of the separatepartition strips may be effected to form a rigid frame-like mouldentirely free from distortion, whilst each bridging member is arrangedso that it may be dis posed on, and its underside brought to the levelof, the upper surfaces of the channel-section side members and is devoidof any part which projects down below said level and between said sidemembers so that two of said bridging members may be located injuxtaposition to, and on opposite sides of, a partition strip which isto be removed, thus serving to overlie and hold down the concrete orthelike during the upward withdrawal of said partition strip, and beingthemselves adapted to be removed by longitudinal sliding movementwithout damage to the surface of the laid concrete or the like.

I he spacing members are of two patterns, the one, the primary spacingmember, arranged for use below, and. the other; the secondary spacingmember, arranged for use above, the level of the surface of the path tobe laid.

For the laying of curved pathways the channel-section members may bepre-formed according to requirements.

The channel-section members, whether straight or curved are made inconvenient lengths and in order that two such members may be properlyaligned and secured end to end, each may have secured at its one end afish plate adapted to fit closely within the channel-section and at theother end a clamping device such as a cam pivotal on an axis parallelwith the web of the channel-section member against which web it mayforce the fish plate projecting from the end of the next adjacentmember. By these means may be assured the correct alignment of the sidesof the pathway to be laid, Whether it be straight or curved.

, The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings whereinFigure 1 is a plan view of parts arranged to constitute a mould for thelaying of an area of, a concrete pathway; Figure 2 is a similar viewshowing an area of the path laid and primary and secondary spacingmembers arranged preparatory to the laying of the adjacent area; Figure2a shows two adjacent bays of a path laid and bridging members arrangedin position preparatory to removal-from the laid concrete of a partitionstrip; Figures 3 and l are enlarged sections on the lines 3-3 and 4-4,.respectively, Figure 1; Figure 5 is an enlargedsectional elevation ofthe cam device used at the ends of the primary and secondary spacing members and at one end of a bridging member; Figures 6 and 6a are enlargedsections on the lines 6-43 and fizz-6a, respectively, Figure 2; Figures7 and 8 are enlarged sections on the lines 1-? and B--8, respectively.Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevation showing how the adjacent endsof channel-section side members are united; Figure 10 is a sectionalplan on the line lfi-IB, Figure 9; and Figure 11 is a plan correspondingwith Figure 10 but showing a modification.

As shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4, a mould for the laying of an area of apath consists of channel-section. side members 2|, 2| which are disposedwith their webs vertical and facing towards one another and are locatedin parallel relationship by means of transversel arranged primaryspacing members 22, 22, whilst partition strips 23, 23 separate fromsaid spacing members engage the side members 2l, 2| and are supported,from the sides remote from the area where the concrete is to be laid, bysaid primary spacing members 22, 22. Each side member 2| is notched, asat 24 (Figures 1 and 4), at intervals along its length, to receive ahooked end 25 of a partition strip 23. Each primary spacing member 22 isof channel-section with its web uppermost and secured to the upper sideof said web is a clamp having a handle 26 by means of which ma be turneda double cam device shown in greater detail in Figure 5. The handle 26is mounted on a spindle 21 which has its bearing in the body 28 of theclamp, and at the lower end of the spindle 21 is a double cam, aperipheral cam 23 which is adapted to act on the edge of the upperflange of a channel-section side member 2|, whilst a face cam 30 isadapted to act on the inner face of said flange (see Figure 4). A springwasher 3| is disposed around the spindle 27 and bears against the body28 and against a shoulder presented by the transverse face of the cam29. As shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4 the body 28 has a horizontallyextending portion 32 which rests on the top of a channel-section sidemember 2| and under which is secured the web of a primary spacing member22 so that said web is supported with its upper surface level with theupper surface of the channel-section side member 2|, the cam 3|] servingto draw down the clamp against the upper surface of the side member 2|,whilst the cam 29 draws the end of the spacing member 22 against thevertical web of said side member.

For use, the channel-section side members 2|, 2| are laid on suitablyprepared ground and correctly located with respect to one another by'means of the primary spacing members 22, 22,

for which purpose it is desirable that a primary spacing member 22should be secured to the channel-section side members 2!, 2| at each endof the lines of side members, whatever may be the length of said lines,after which the total area thus enclosed may be sub-divided by partitionstrips 23, laid transversely and each of which is supported by the sidemembers 2|, 2|, with the notches 24 in which the engage by means ofhooks, projecting pins or the like. As shown in Figure 1 the partitionstrips 23, 23 at each end of the first bay are supported so as to benormal to the surface of the pathway to be laid, by placing injuXta-position thereto a primary spacing member 22 outside the partitionstrip 23, that is to say, on the side thereof remote from the bay wherethe concrete is to be laid. Similarly each succeeding partition strip 23is supported by a primary spacing member 22 placed in juXta-positionthereto, that is to say on th right thereof, Figures 2 and 201., if itbe assumed, as set forth above, that concrete is to be laid in the lefthand bay first and then working from left to right. In order that theclamping means of the spacing members 22, 22 may be operated in eitherdirection, their earns 29, 38 should be symmetrical abouta radiuscorresponding with a peak of the cam. When the cams 29, 30 are actuatedto clamp the spacing members 22, 22 to the channelsection side members2|, 2|, a slight rolling action ensues where the cams bear on theflanges of the channel-section side members 2|, 2| thus causing saidprimary spacing members 22, 22 to fit closely against the adjacentpartition strips 23, 23, If desired, longitudinally arranged shallowsub-divisional partition strips may be interengaged with the transversepartition strips 23 to produce grooves in the surface of the concrete.

33, Figures 2, 6 and 6a is a secondary spacing member which is somewhatsimilar to the primary spacing member 22 and has clamping devices at itsends similar to those described in connection with the primary spacingmember 22, but its channel-section is so arranged that when clamped inposition the flanges of said spacing member 33 are upwardl directed, thelower surface of its web being drawn into contact with the uppersurfaces of the side members 2| and projections 36, Figures 6 and Go,from its under.- side being drawn firml against the vertical Webs ofsaid side members 2 I.

When concrete has been laid in the first bay between two partitionstrips 23, 23, supported against the tamping pressure by the primaryspacing members 22, 22, Figure l, and the succeeding bay is to be laid,a secondary spacing member 33, Figures 6 and 6a, is located on the sidemembers 2|, 2| over the concrete already laid so as to support thetransverse partition strip 23 at the beginning of the second bay, abovethe level of the surface of the laid area and the primary spacing member22 adjacent to said partition strip 23 is removed, see Figure 2, and, asshown in Figure 2, is used to support the transverse partition strip 23at the other end of said second bay on the outside and below the levelof the surface to be laid in said second bay. Concrete is then laid insaid second bay, rammed and smoothed. The secondary spacing member 33 isthen removed from the first bay and located to supportthe partitionstrip 23 at the beginning of the third bay, i. e., on the side of saidpartition remote from the third bay. It is to be observed that thesecondary spacing member 33 is removed just after the bay is laid andwhilst the concrete is still moist, hence the depressions left by theprojections 36 in the laid concrete can be filled up and any surfaceirregularities can be corrected with a trowel.

In order that the transverse partition strips 23 may be removed from thecast concrete when it is about to set and without breaking away thesurface thereof, there are provided bridging members 33a, see Figures '7and 8, on which the means by which they may be secured to thechannel-section side members 2| are arranged so that their lowersurfaces will be at the surface level of the laid pathway. Each of thesebridging members 33a has, at one end, a rotatable elongated tongue 34 toengage the under surface of the upper flange of one of said side members2| and, at the other end, a cam device 29, 30 similar to that of theprimary and secondary spacing members 22 and 33. When a transversepartition strip 23 is to be removed, two of these bridging members 33aare arranged closely adjacent to the opposite sides thereof, as shown inFigure 8, the elongated tongues 34 being engaged first, after which thedouble cam devices at the other ends of said bridging members areactuated to grip the channel-section side member 2| at that side and atthe same time to draw the elongated tongues into close engagement withthe channelsection side member 2| at the other side. The partition strip23 is then withdrawn upwardly, said members 33a, 33a serving to holddown the concrete, after which said members 33a, 33a are unclamped andslidden longitudinally over the surface of the concrete, the directionof movement being such that the rotatable elongated tongue 34 is at thetrailing end. This tongue 34 is elongated so that its axis of rotationmay be at such a distance from the point at which it grips the flange ofthe side member 2| as to permit of the required sliding movement. Aslight lifting movement may be induced simultaneously if theunder-surface of the bridging member 33a. be inclined downwardly at itsend, as indicated at 35; Figure '7, beyond the point at which the flangeof the side member 2i is gripped, to ride up said flange. As thebridging members 33a are devoid of any part which projects down belowthe level of the laid concrete and between said side members they may beslidden longitudinally over the surface of the concrete without damagethereto.

Figures 9 and 10 show how side members 2! may be properly aligned, andsecured end to end. For this purpose each has riveted at its one end afish plate 37 adapted to fit closely within the channel-section andprojecting from said end, whilst at its other end it has a clampingdevice in the form of a cam 38 pivotal about a vertical pin 39 to forceagainst its web the fish plate 31 of the adjacent side member 25.

Figure 11 shows a modification of the means for aligning the sidemembers 2!, wherein the fish plate 37 is tapered slightly at its freeend and wedged in tightly behind the pin 39.

In order that the functions of the dififerent members may be appreciatedfully the sequence of operations in the laying of a concrete or likepath will now be recapitulated.

(a) The channel-section side members 2i, 2! are laid on prepared ground,interconnected and spaced correctly by means of the primary spacingmembers 22.

(7)) Separate partition strips 23 are dropped into position in thenotches 24 and are supported below the level of the upper surfaces ofthe channel-section side members 2|, 2! by locating the primary spacingmembers closely thereto, one on the left of the first partition strip 23and the remainder on the right of each succeeding partition strip (iflaying the concrete or the like from left to right). See Figure 1.

(0) Lay, ram and smooth off the concrete in the left hand, or first,bay.

((1) Locate a secondary spacing member 33 over the laid concrete andclose to the partition strip 23 at the right hand end of the bay andthen remove the primary spacing member at the opposite side of saidpartition strip. See Figure 2. If all the partition strips 23 have notbeen supported initially by a primary spacing member 22, that memberwhich has just been removed should be located on the right hand side of,and close to, the succeeding partition strip 23. The second bay willthen be ready for the laying of concrete therein, one partition strip 23being supported by the previously laid concrete in conjunction with thesecondary spacing member 33 and the other partition strip beingsupported by a primary spacing member 22. Concrete is then laid, rammedand smoothed off in the second bay.

(6) Remove the secondary spacing member 33 from the first bay in whichthe concrete is still in a moist state and locate said member over theconcrete laid in the second bay and close to the partition strip 23 atthe right hand end of the second bay.

(f) Fill up the depressions left in the concrete in the first bay by theprojections 35 from the taking its initial set the partition strips 23may be removed, for which purpose (it) Locate two bridgin members 33a,33a, on opposite sides of, and close to, a partition strip 23. SeeFigures 2a and 8. Withdraw the partition strip 23 upwardl and then slideoff the bridging members 33a, 33a, longitudinally. If any damage to thesurface of the concrete has occurred this should now be made good.Repeat this operation for the succeeding partition strips 23 so thatonly the channel-section side members 2i, 2| and the first and lastprimary spacing members 22, 22 are left, and:

When the concrete in all the bays has set remove the first and lastprimary spacing members 22, 22 and the channel-section side members 2|,2 I.

The spaces left by the removal of the partition strips 23 are filledwith lime mortar and smoothed off either before or after the first andlast spacing members 22, 22, and the channel-section side members 2|, 2|are removed.

By means of this invention, the laying, with accuracy, of concrete andsimilar pathways and the like in situ to any line or curve is greatlyfacilitated.

I claim:

1. Means for use in the laying of concrete and similar aggregatepathways and the like comprising in combination a bridging member,channel section side members and partition strips, said channel sectionside members constituting with said partition strips the sides of amould in which concrete may be cast, the arrangement being such thatsaid bridging member may be disposed on, and its underside brought tothe level of, the upper surfaces on said channel section side membersand adjacent to one of said partition strips, said bridging member beingdevoid of any part which projects down below said level and between saidchannel section ide members and being provided at its ends with meansfor engaging said side members.

2. Means for use in the laying of concrete and similar aggregatepathways and the like comprising in combination a bridging member,channel section side members and partition strips, said channel sectionside members constituting with said partition strips the sides of amould in which concrete may be cast, the arrangement being such thatsaid bridging member may be disposed on, and its underside brought tothe level of, the upper surfaces on said channel section side membersand adjacent to one of said partition strips, said bridging member beingdevoid of any part which projects down below said level and between saidchannel section side members and being pro vided at one end with adouble cam device and at the other end with a rotatable elongated tonguefor engaging said side members.

3. Mcansfor use in the laying of concrete and similar aggregate pathwaysand the like comprising in combination a bridging member, channelsection side member and partition strips, said channel section sidemembers constituting with said partition strips the sides of a mould inwhich concrete may be cast, the arrangement being such that saidbridging member may be disposed on, and its underside brought to thelevel of, the upper surfaces on said channel section side members andadjacent to one of said partition strips, said bridging member beingdevoid of any part which projects down below said level and between saidchannel section side members and being provided at one end with a doublecam device adapted to act on the edge and on the inner face of one ofthe flanges of a channel-section side member and at the other end with arotatable elongated tongue adapted to act on the inner face of one ofthe flanges of another channel-section side member, both said double camdevice and said rotatable elongated tongue being adapted to secure thebridging member with its under surface in contact with the uppersurfaces of the channel-section side members.

4. Means for use in the laying of concrete and similar aggregatepathways and the like comprising in combination a, bridging member,channel section side members and partition strips, said channel sectionside members constituting with said partition strips the sides of amould in which concrete may be cast, the arrangement being such thatsaid bridging member may be disposed on, and it underside brought to thelevel of, the upper surfaces on said channel section side members andadjacent to one of said partition strips, said bridgin member beingdevoid of an part which projects down below said level and between saidchannel section side members and being provided at one end with a doublecam device and at the other end with a rotatable elongated tongue forengaging said side members, the under surface of the bridging memberbeing inclined downwardly at said other end.

5. Means for use in the laying of concrete and similar aggregatepathways and the like comprising in combination a bridging member,channel section side members and partition strips. said channel sectionside members constituting with said partition strips the sides of amould in which concrete may be cast, the arrangement being such thatsaid bridging member may be disposed on, and its underside brought tothe level of the upper surfaces on said channel section side members andadjacent to one of said partition strips, said bridging member beingdevoid of any part which projects down below said level and between saidchannel section side members and being provided at one end with a doublecam device adapted to act on the edge and on the inner face of one ofthe flanges of a channel-section side member and at the other end with arotatable elongated tongue adapted to act on the inner face of one ofthe flanges of another channel-section side member, both said double camdevice and said rotatable elongated tongue being adapted to secure thebridging member with its under surface in contact with the uppersurfaces of the channel-section side members, the under surface of thebridging member being inclined downwardly at said other end beyond thepart where it makes contact with the upper surface of a channel-sectionside member, whereby, when the bridgin member is removed by longitudinalsliding movement, the co-action of the inclined part of its undersurface with a channel-section side member will cause the bridgingmember to rise slightly.

6. Means for the use in the laying of concrete and similar aggregatepathways and the like, comprising in combination bridging members,channel section side members and a partition strip, said channel sectionside members forming with said partition strips the sides of a mould inwhich concrete has been cast, two of said bridging members beingdisposed on, and their undersides brought to the level of, the uppersurfaces of said channel section side members and adiacent to and onopposite sides of said partition strips.

THOMAS WASS FLORY.

